Pearly Clamclamp
The Pearly Clamclamp (ヤマシンジュ?, lit.: "Hill Pearl"; called the Clampshell in the European version of New Play Control! Pikmin) is an enemy in Pikmin. This large bivalve has a pinkish shell and inside, a small pearl surrounded by a clear blue membrane. When Pikmin are thrown on it, they will attack the membrane to try to take out the pearl. The enemy's only defense is acting like a Venus flytrap: the Clamclamp will stretch its mouth wide open, creaking like a poorly-oiled hinge, and chomp. Before it does this, one needs to call the Pikmin so they won't be eaten. This is obviously a very simple predatory tactic for the creature. After being delivered, the pearl gives fifty Pikmin. If the Clamclamp is on land, two bomb-rocks can also be used for a quick and easy kill. This creature is one of the two second leading creatures in Pikmin production, succeeded by the Smoky Progg and tied with the Armored Cannon Beetle. Oddly, the Clamclamp has been known to take slight damage for a short time after the Pikmin have been called back, meaning that if the creature is already near death, the player can simply withdraw their Pikmin and the Clamclamp will die on its own. The creature cannot truly die, and will continue to attack even after the object on top of it has been removed. ContentsStats[edit]The following stats apply to the pearl only.
NotesReel notes“Though beautiful, this mollusk's pearls are thin and fragile.” Olimar's voyage log“One would expect this creature to be a mollusk of the sea, but the fact that it is also found in the forest is typical of this planet's oddities. The pearl that rests inside appears to be one of great value, but it is actually a trap.”
Guide book[edit]“To lure then trap creatures that are attracted to small shiny objects, the Ploister turns undigested foodstuffs into round beads with the same secretion that makes up its shell.
The pearl-like substance has a layering that is thinner and weaker then a real Pearl, reducing it in value.”
Locations[edit]Story Mode[edit]They only appear in The Impact Site. There are three, all of them on the beach area at the northwest. One is submerged in water, and has the Positron Generator. Another is in a small island in the pond, and the final one is on the beach itself, to the north of the area. Challenge Mode[edit]These are the locations of the Pearly Clamclamp in Challenge Mode. These places are in specific hard to reach places and surrounded by enemies.
Strategy[edit]
Pikmin[edit]There are three ways to kill the Pearly Clamclamp:
Note that it can still attack after its pearl has been taken out. With enough throwing speed, it is possible to defeat the enemy in a single cycle (i.e. before it closes its shell the first time), although this is mostly only feasible in tool-assisted superplays.[1] Leaders[edit]There is only one place that a Pearly Clamclamp can be killed with Olimar alone. In The Distant Spring in Challenge Mode, go to the area near where the Chronos Reactor is found in Story Mode. There is a Yellow Wollywog nearby. Lure it right next to the Clamclamp, and lie down right next to it. After a few attempts, you'll be in the Clamclamp. It will try to shut on you, like if you were a Pikmin. Attack the pearl with your leader's punch then lay down if the Clamclamp and/or the Yellow Wollywog tries to attack. If you successfully do all these tactics, you will have defeated the membrane surrounding the pearl. Then get out of it, as the enemies will still try to attack. It was originally thought that this could only be done on the New Play Control! version of Pikmin, but it can be done on both versions. Technical information[edit]Creature[edit]
Pearl[edit]
Positron Generator[edit]
Other information[edit]
Naming[edit]Its name consists of the word "pearly", referring to the pearl it normally holds, and a combination of the words "clam" and "clamp", "clamp" meaning "to crush and squeeze". In the European version of New Play Control! Pikmin, its name was changed to simply "Clampshell", for unknown reasons; this name is merely a combination of "clamp" and "shell". Its Japanese name is ヤマシンジュ?, which translates to "Hill Pearl". Internally, this enemy is simply called While not entirely official, its scientific name is Lapis regrettabilis. Lapis may refer to the color of the pearls they carry, the water they inhabit, or the Blue Pikmin used to defeat them. Regrettabilis is similar to "regrettable", which may refer to how the player may regret throwing Pikmin into its mouth. Names in other languages[edit]
Gallery[edit]
Trivia[edit]
See also[edit]References[edit]
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